HC stays 7.5pc VAT on Eng medium schools

The High Court (HC) stayed on Thursday for six months the 7.5 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) slapped on the tuition fees of English medium school students, reports UNB.
The HC order came three days after withdrawal of VAT on tuition fees of private university students in the face of a strong student movement.
A two-member HC bench comprising Justice Shamim Hasnain and Justice Mohammad Ullah passed the order after initial hearing on a writ petition filed by the guardians of two English medium school students.
The court also issued a rule asking the government to explain why the VAT imposed on the tuition fees of English medium schools would not be declared illegal.
HC lawyer Shahdeen Malik stood for the writ petitioners.
"Now no one is giving VAT for education. Then why the English medium school students will pay VAT?" said Shahdeen Malik after the order.
In 2012 the government imposed 4.5 per cent VAT on the tuition fees of English medium school students. This year the government increased the amount of VAT to 7.5 per cent.
Guardians of two students of Sunbeam School and Sunnydale School filed the writ petition challenging the government decision.